Can Service Dogs Improve Activity and Quality of Life in Veterans With PTSD? (SDPTSD)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males and Females greater than> 18 years of age
• Referral from Mental Health provider that documents PTSD.
• PTSD as a result of any trauma as determined by meeting DSM 5 diagnostic criteria.
• Enrolled in mental health services at VA and has attended at least one visit in the 90 days prior to consent.
• If individual not currently enrolled in mental health treatment decides to enroll in such then he/she may become eligible to participate in the study.
• If individual enrolled in mental health treatment schedules and attends a mental health visit then he/she may become eligible to participate in the study.
• Agrees to remain in mental health treatment throughout the duration of the study
• Can adequately care for a dog
• Home environment is suitable for a dog.
• If the home environment can be remedied the potential participant may become eligible to participate in the study
• If a participant moves home while enrolled in the study the new home must be suitable for a dog
• Home environment is accessible for study staff
• If a participant moves home while enrolled in the study, the new home must be geographically accessible to study staff.
• Is willing to accept randomization outcome..
• Has someone to care for dog in a long-term absence
• If no one is available to care for the dog but the situation changes then the participant may become eligible to participate.
• Others in home are agreeable to having dog
• If others in the home are not agreeable but at a later date the situation changes, then the potential participant may become eligible to participate
• Is willing and able to travel (by air or car) to training site for pairing
• If potential participant's unwillingness to travel to a training site changes, he/she may become eligible to participate.
• Individual has no household pets that would threaten the dog-human bonding process
• If an individual has household pets but the situation changes, the individual may become eligible to participate
• If a household dog lives inside the home and the home is partitioned such that there are two or more separate living spaces served by independent entrance/exits, and the individual does not live in a partition with a dog, then the individual can be eligible. If a household dog lives primarily outside the home in a rural area and the individual is not primarily responsible for feeding the dog on a daily basis, the individual can be eligible.
• If an individual has pets other than dogs that could interfere with bonding, the individual will be scheduled for screening visits and the relationship will be assessed by the dog trainer.
• If an individual has a household dog or other pet that prevents participation in the study but the situation changes, the individual may become eligible to participate. In this instance, it will be the individual's responsibility to re-contact the study team.
• If can verbalize understanding of consent form, is willing to provide written informed consent and to follow study procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hospitalization for mental health reasons in the past 6 months
• Once six months since hospitalization have passed, the individual may become eligible to participate in the study
• Aggressive behavior that would make it unsafe for dog
• Diagnosis of psychosis, delusions, dementia, active alcohol/substance dependence, or moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
• Active suicidal intent as determined by a CPRS flag for suicidal intent or a score 5 on the C-SSRS completed at the baseline visit
• Homicidal intent or cognitive disabilities that would preclude safety of dog and/or ability to participate in the study
• Social, mental or physical condition that prevents the potential participant from either giving informed consent or participating in the study
• Participation in another research trial
• If a participant is in another unrelated study and both the study Chair/PI of this and the other study consider participation in both studies to be acceptable then the individual may become eligible to participate in the study.
• Has chart note flag for violent/disruptive behavior
• Potential participants who are pregnant/who have a partner who is pregnant, or who currently have one or more children younger than the age of 5 in the household for more than 8 hours per , one day a week will be excluded from the study.
• If a participant or anyone else in the household becomes pregnant during the observation period, the participant will be excluded from the study.
• Participants who have children in their home/become pregnant after being paired with a dog will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
• After a total of 10 dogs have been placed with participants who have children between the ages of 5 and 10 years, and after each pairing has successfully reached and passed the 2 month home visit, this exclusion criterion will be revisited for potential inclusion of participants with children younger than 5 years.